Metal-bending machine



Sept. 18, 1.928; v s, H. GIBSON uE TAL mum MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16. 1922' Sept. 18, 1928.

1,684,794 S. H. GIBSON METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed June 16. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7 Egg- 77. I" .72 ./2 0 f3 13 "2F;- 7? 41 /11/0112 41 71/10/12 Sept. 18, 1928.

si H. G|B$0N METAL BENDING'MACHINE Filed June 16. 1922 {Sheets-Sheet- 3 Sept. 18,;1928. 1,684,794

- -s. H. GIBSON METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed June 15. 1922 4 sheets-sh 4 f5 49 i i; 1.11:5: m 49 L573; 48 J Z Patented Sept 18, 1928.

umr stares- AT ENT omce.

SAMUELH. GIBSON, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FANNER MFG.CO.,0F*

CLEVELAND; OHIO, A CORPORATION on OHIO.

METAL-BENDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to amachine for bending metal strips into desired shapes. More particularly the machine is intended to make Chaplets and for-this purpose em bodies a machine which receives a strip. of metal, severs the same when a proper length has been fed into the machine and-has instrumentalities, which further operate to. bend the strip-of metal. arojundaforming die and discharge the product from the forming die after the article is completely formed. 8

, The present invention is an improvement over my Patent No. 1,348,215, granted-Aug a, 1920. r

Objects of the present invention are to simplify the construction of the cam operated slides whichcarryactuating and forming members whereby they are made more readily removable "for replacement or repair and also to provide a more efficient and more easily accessible spring suspension'for the slides.

A further object is to provide connections between the slideswhich are more readily accessible foradjustment or removaliof the tools. 7 Y

Alfurther objectis to provide adjustablemountin'g's for the shaping and actuating members upon the bed and upon the slides and tools whereby asingle machine may be usedto make chaplets ofdiflerent sizes.

Generally speaking, the invent-ion maybe said to comprise the elements and combina-. tions thereof: set forth in the accompanyingclaims.

In the annexed drawing forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a side elevat-ion ot the machine; Fig: 2 isa top. plan view of the machine; Fig; 3 is a partial side elevation of the machine, the elevation being taken from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a frontelevation of the machine; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the bed plate and parts mounted thereon; Fi 6 and 7 are edge and side views respectively of the'slide plate carryingthe actuating members for the transversely movable tormersmounted on the bed plate; 8 is 'a side elevation of the" slide plate upon which the cutter is mounted; Figs. 9 and 10 are edgaand-side views respectively of-a portion of the plateupon which the bridge 1922.v Serial N6. 568,779.

former is mounted; Figs. 11, 12 and- 13 are sectional views showing the different positions of the formingmembers in operating upon a metal strip to form a'chaplet; and F1g. 14 isa perspective view of a finished Chaplet. I

Referring to the annexed drawingathe supporting 'frame 1 has a forwardly pro ject'ingbase plate 2 upon which is emov: ably supported'a bed plate 3 adaptedto support astationary die and certain fofrin- 4'. To the inneriac'e' of the blo'ck'lOis secured a cutter bar 11 which has its upperedge substantially even'with' the top offth'e platform 9 in the normal position of'the platform, The die 5, stop 8 and the block lOcarrying the platform and cutter bar are all adjustably and removably secured within the groove'4 of the bed pl'ate so that the die 5 maybe replaced by larger or smaller dies'and thestop 8 andcutter bar 11 v may be adjusted to cut blanks of different lengths. The die 5] and blocks 7 and 10" are held in adjusted position bym'eans of set screws 5; 7*" and 10 respectively. At the upper edges of the diet) on"theside's thereof toward the stop 8 and cuttefbar' 11 are a pair of transversely movable'former members 12 and 13 which' are carried; by slide blocks 14 mountediina'groove 15 beside the die receiving groove 4' and parallel therewith. A coilspring '16 is interposed between the blocks 14 and set screws 17 engaging the outer-ends of the blocks 14 serve to adjust theblocks to properly position the former members 12 and 13 with respect to the die 5. The blocks 14 carry upwardly projecting inclined shoulder" lugs 19 which are adaptedto cooperate with vertically Inovable actuating members to move the blocks 14 inwardly in opposition to the spring 16 to move the forming members 12andl3 toward each other across the upper face of the die 5. When the blocks 14are in their normal position in engagement with the set screws 17 the former members 12 and 13 are positioned at the side edges of the die "and form a continuation of the recess 6 in the die so that the strip ofmetal, to be formed is adapted to be fed over the die and to be supported in place over the die to be engaged by the movable die and-forced into the recess 6 in the 'die 5.

MiOllIltQtl in the housing 20 in the frame 1 above the base plate 2 is a horizontal drive shaft 21 which carries at its forward end a series of narrow earns 22 side by side thereon. Beneath the drive shaft 21 and over the bed plate 3 is a rectangular housing 23 in c which a series of slide plates are placed side by side in engagement with each other for.

vertical movement toward and from the bed plate 3. e As shown herein, there are five slide plates designated respectively; 24; 25; 26;. 27 and 28. Each of the slide plates carries a roller 29 upon its upper. edge which engages one of the cams 22 upon the drive shaft 21. Adjacent one edge thereof each slide plate has attached thereto a suspension.

rod 30, the upper end of which is attached to the lower end of a coil spring 31, the upperendof which is attached to a suspension rod 32 supported from a bracket 33 secured to the top of the shaft housing 20. By suspending the slide platesfrom springs outside the housing 23 it' is possible/to place the plates inthe housing with their side faces in contact and to easily remove individual plates from the housing. 1

Theplate 24 is provided adjacent its lowor edge with a dovetail rib 34 projecting from the outer face thereof, Adjustably secured to the rib 34 are a pair of former actuating blocks 35 which are provided at their lower ends with inclinedshoulders 36 adapted to engage with the inclined shoulders 19 upon the formersupporting blocks 14. The blocks'35 have a rabbeted upper edge and are clamped tothe rib 34 by means of a rabbeted attaching block 37 which is secured to the block 35 and clamped'upon the rib 34 by means of clamping bolts 38. By loosening clamping b0ltsj38 the blocks 35 may be adjusted along the rib 34 and set screws 4 39 adjacent opposite ends of'the rib 34 serve to accurately position the actuating blocks Betachably secured to thelower edge of the slide plate 25 1s a forming die 40 which has a laterally extending foot piece 41 which engages in the recess 6' in thestationary die 5. .As shown in Fig. llthe movable former members 12 and 13 are actuated tobend the strip of metal over the top of thefoot piece 41 whilethe foot piece-is in the'recess6 of the stationary die. .Detachablymounted on the lower edge of the slide plate 26 is a shaper die 42 which en-.

gages the sheet metal flaps turned over the I top of the foot piece 41 and forces them into conformity with the upper surface of the foot piece.

A bridge flange former and presser block 43 is detachably and adj ustably secured to a dovetail 44 formed on the lower edge of the slide plate 27. The presser block 43 is secured to the dovetail 44 by means of an attaching block 45 and clamping bolts 46. An adjusting screw 47 at the end of the dovetail 44 is engageable with the prosser block 43 and serves to accurately position the block.

The presser block 43 engages the spring sup-.

ported platform 9 immediately behind the cutter bar 11 and cooperates with the rear face of the cutter bar 11 to form a short, bridge flange upon the end of a strip which has been severed by the cutter bars. a A cutter supporting block 48 is adj ustabl connected upon an external rib 49 formed on the side of the slide plate 28 adjacent its lower edge. The block 48 is secured in ad justed position by means of clamping bolts 50. A cutter plate 51 is secured by bolts 52 to the lowerend of the adjustable block 48 and projects inwardly therefrom over the cutter bar 11. By means of the adjustable connection of the block 48 with the slide plate 28 the cutter plate 51Vc'an be adjusted to correspondto the adjustment of the cutter bar 11' on the bed plate 3. The came 22 are arranged to actuate the slide plates in proper sequence. i V i To eject the finished article. from the foot piece 41 an ejector collar 53 is slidably the block 59 with a slide plate 62 mounted in i a guideway 63 in the shaft housing 20. grooved cam .64 is'carried by the shaft 21 to the inner sideof the cams22, and the slide 62 has a pin 65 engaging in the peripheral groove of the cam 64. The cam groove has an offset 66 which serves to actuate the slide plate 62'which through the link 61 imparts a'turning movement to the verticalshaft 56 V and .actuates the ejector collar 53 through the crank arm 55. By adjusting the block 59 in the slot 58t-he extent of angular movement of, the shaft 56 and consequently the extent of movement of the ejector collar 53 mayfbevaried." This adjustment isuseful since itpermits the ejector to be used with forming'dies' of different widths. The ofiset' 66in thecam groove is so positioned 'that the ejector is actuated after all the' form'ing ophind the slide plate 28 causing the block 43 to press the platform 9 down and'to coac't with the rear face of the cutter bar 11 to form a flange 67 at the forward end'of the severed strip; The slide plate 25 is then actuated to lower the forming die 40, forcing the blank into the recess 6 of the die 51 as shown in Fig; 11. The slide-plate 24'is next actuated to cause the formers 12 and 13 to move inwardly toward each other over the upper face of the foot piece 41 of the forming die as shown in Fig. 12. The slide plate 26 is next actuated to bring the shaper die 42 down upon the metal folded over the foot piece 41 as shownin-Fig. 13. Thefoot piece 41 of the die 40 has a slot 41 to receive the flange 67 at the forward end of the strip as it is bent over the foot piece 41 by the forming member 12. The height of the flange 67 is substantially equal to the thickness of the foot piece 41 so that in the finished chaplet as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the flange 67 forms the bridge of the chaplet. On return of the movable die 40 to its raised position the ejector collar 53 is actuated to eject the chaplet.

By reason of the adjustable connections above described, the die members may be removed and replaced by die members adapted to form larger or smaller chaplets and the adjustable cutting and forming members can be correspondingly adjusted to provide a blank of proper size and to cooperate with the dies in shaping such articles.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a stationary bed having a stationary die, and movable forming members mounted thereon, of a drive shaft having a series of cams thereon above said bed, a series of slide plates arranged side by side in contact with each other and housed for vertical movement above said stationary bed, each of said plates having a part in engagement with a cam on said shaft, a spring suspension for each of said plates mounted above the plates and connected to the upper ends thereof for holding the plates in engagement with the cams, forming members secured to the lower ends of certain of said plates, and actuating members for the movable members on the stationary bed carried upon the lower ends of other of said plates.

2. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a stationary be'dhaving-astationary die and movable forming members mounted thereon, of a drive shaft havingplates housed for vertical movement abovesai'd' bed, cams on said shaft each of said plates having a part engaging with one of saidcams, fixed support above said shaft, suspension springs connecting each of. said plates with said support to-hold said pl'atesin engagement with said cams, forming members secured to the lower ends of certain of said plates, and actuating mcinbers for the movable members on said stationary bed carried upon the lower ends of other of said plates.

3'. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a stationary bed having a stationary sheet metal forming die and a'stop member and a cutter-"member on opposite sides thereof mounted for adjustment toward andv from saiddie, of vertical-1y movable cutter and formingmembers cooperating with said cutter member and die upon said stationary bed, said movable cutter member being mounted for adjust ments corresponding to the adjustments of the cutter member on the bed, said die and movable former being detachably mounted whereby they may be replaced with corre sponding parts of a larger or smaller size.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a stationary bed having a stationary sheet metal forming die, a stop member and a cutter member on opposite sides thereof mounted for adjustment toward and from said die and forming members mounted for movement transversely above said die and for bodily lateral adjustment with respect thereto, of vertically movable independently actuated slides, above said bed, a cutting member mounted upon one of said slides and adjustable thereon to register with cutter members on the bed in each of its adjusted positions, actuating members mounted on one of said slides and engageable with said transversely movable forming members, said actuating members being mounted for adjustments correspond ing to the lateral adjustments of said forming members, and a forming member on another of said slides cooperating with said stationary die.

5. In a machine of the character described and in combination, a stationary bed, a die having a recess formed therein mounted upon said bed, a. vertically movable forming die cooperating with sai d bed die, oppositely disposed movable members normally located above and at the sides of the recess in the bed die, the front faces of said movable members forming continuations of the sides of the recess in the bed die and serving as parts of said die during the initial. bending of a strip of metal, and means for operating said movable members to reciprocate them across the recess in the bed die thereb to fold the strip of metalabout the forming die, said dies being detachably mounted whereby theymay be replaced: by larger or smaller dies, and said movablemembers-and the actuating means therefor being adj ustably mounted whereby said movable members can be so adjusted that in normal position they form continuations of a larger or smaller die and whereby the extent of movement of said movable 'members can be correspondingly varied. v i a 6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with cooperating stationary and movable dies, of cutters adjustably mounted with respect to said dies to vary the size of the blank operated upon, and .auxiliary transversely movable forming members cooperating with said dies, said stationary and movable dies being detachably mounted I whereby theyican be replaced with larger or smaller dies, and said auxiliary formers being adjustable bodily toward and fromvthe axis of said dies to coactwith larger or. smaller dies. a i 7 In a machine of the character described, the combination with I a stationary "bed having a stationary die, and movable forming members mounted thereon, of a drive shaft having a series of cams jthereon' abovesaid bed, a series of slide plates housed for vertical movement above said stationary bed, each of said plates having a part in engagement with a cam on said shaft, and forming and actuating members secured to the lower edges of said plates cooperating with the stationary and movable forming members on saidrbed, each ofsaid members having a slidable connection with the lower edge of aplate, and means for clamping the same 1n adjusted position thereon.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature. SAMUEL H. GIBSON. 

